A set of measures for the conservation of the snow leopard and the development of eco-tourism on the territory of the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve

In order to preserve the snow leopard population and promote eco-tourism, the Notivory Foundation and the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve have developed a set of measures planned for implementation in the period 2021-2022.

Our tasks: to

• Popularize the ideas of preserving unique natural complexes with special attention to the problems of preserving rare animal species, such as snow leopard, manul, northern forest deer;

• Create conditions for the stable, cost-effective development of educational and eco-tourism in the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve;

• Strengthen the positive image of protected professions – state inspector, researcher, etc., including attracting the local population to work;

• To organize activities aimed at environmental education and the formation of environmental culture in society.

Activities that we have already completed:

• We have replenished the technical bank of the Reserve with photo traps, two boats and a motor to ensure the efficiency of conducting raid measures in the water area of the Sayano-Shushensky reservoir within the boundaries of the reserve, as well as in carrying out economic activities within the framework of the functioning of cordons in the shoreline of the reservoir.

• We have developed a game "RESERVED", which is dedicated to the flora and fauna, natural objects and cultural and historical heritage. The game was transferred to children's educational institutions.

• We conducted an expedition and an anti-poaching raid in order to identify and suppress crimes against nature on the territory of the Reserve.

• We conducted forest pathology monitoring in the protected forests of the inaccessible area of the Western Sayan. The purpose of monitoring is to control the manifestation, spread and development of foci of entomopathologies and phytopathologies.

• A documentary film was made about the Altai-Sayan ecoregion and the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve as part of the ecoregion.

• They supported the action carried out by the State Inspectors of the reserve to clean the coastal zone of the Sayano-Shushensky reservoir from household garbage brought by the current.

• A unique photo tour "In the footsteps of the snow leopard" has been developed.

Activities that have yet to be completed:

• Repair and commissioning of the floating base of the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve, located in the bay of the Joyskaya Sosnovka River.
  The commissioning of the floating base is an extremely necessary measure that allows the operational use of a small fleet to patrol the water area of the Sayano-Shushensky reservoir within the boundaries of the reserve.
  
  The bay of Joyskaya Sosnovka is the starting point of the water part of transport logistics to the territory of the reserve. This is a strategically important object that provides the possibility and efficiency of carrying out activities for the protection of the reserve territory, the organization of scientific research and environmental and tourist events.

• Organizing and conducting a photo expedition as part of the testing of the photo tour "In the footsteps of the snow leopard".
  During the expedition, a unique photo and video material of the snow leopard habitats in the reserve will be obtained, work will be carried out with photo traps - the data obtained will be studied. This will contribute to the active and large-scale promotion of ideas for the conservation of rare feline species, for example, the snow leopard, and their habitats. It will give a positive resonance to the implementation of the project on the translocation of snow leopards to Russia from the Republic of Tajikistan with the subsequent release in the historical habitat of the snow leopard-in the Sayano-Shushensky nature reserve.
  
  The unique opportunity to organize a photo tour "In the footsteps of a snow leopard" in this particular reserve is explained by the greatest availability of rare cat habitats in comparison with other areas of the range. The approved route of the photo expedition will form the basis of subsequent photo tours for eco-tourists of the Reserve.

• Arrangement of an ecological and excursion complex on the Kurgol cordon, creation of an ecological trail.
  The arrangement will take place in several stages, which include a number of expeditions. We will have to determine the track of the trail, correlate it with the map-scheme of the protected area of the reserve. Based on the data obtained, form a detailed description of the trail for further development of the project. Our goal is to work out an ecological path that minimizes the impact of tourists on the soil and vegetation cover. The final stage will be an expedition, the main task of which is to organize a volunteer landing to participate in the actual creation of the trail, as well as in order to further present it to the general public.
  
  After the creation of the trail is completed, its presentation will be held.

• Creation of a multifunctional ecological and information center "House of the Snow Leopard" for the formation of the ecological culture of the population and the development of educational tourism in the south of Siberia.
  The exhibition space will be created using modern technological approaches and information technologies.
  Specialists in environmental education will develop an educational program focused on working with different age groups-visitors to the center. After the completion of the construction work, a large-scale presentation of the Snow Leopard House center will be held for the media, members of the public, tour operators, etc.
  
  The designed center will allow the reserve to conduct all-season excursion activities on a commercial basis for various Russian and foreign tourist groups.

• Conduct expeditions aimed at organizing patrols of the protected area of the reserve and exploring potential tourist attractions.
  Patrolling the protected zone will strengthen compliance with the special regime of protection of the protected core. Also, during the patrol, potential natural attractions (viewing points in bays, etc.) will be recorded, which can be included in the passport of the route "Along the Sayan Canyon" to increase its saturation.
  
  The protected area of the reserve is located on the right bank of the Sayano-Shushensky reservoir. It is not uncommon for poachers to try to enter the territory of the biosphere core of the reserve by boat, on the left bank of the Sayano-Shushensky reservoir, respectively, from the side of the protected zone, from the right bank.

The cost of the complex of events

17 million rubles